Delonte West was recently arrested in Virginia, with a report saying he was accused of robbing the alleged victim of roughly $23.
As TMZ first reported on Thursday (Jan. 15), the alleged incident first saw officers responding to a call of a robbery and assault in the Belle Haven area in December. The former NBA player, who has faced multiple arrests in the past, was ultimately identified as the suspect.
Law enforcement officials were cited in initial reporting as saying the victim was robbed of an estimated $23 in the incident. While West reportedly fled the scene, he was soon discovered nearby. Following his arrest, the Celtics and Cavaliers alum was released on his own recognizance.
Thursday’s report did not specify the exact agency involved in West’s latest arrest. Complex has reached out to the Fairfax County Police Department for comment, and this story may be updated.
As of this writing, Fairfax County General District Court records list two cases for West related to a Dec. 21 arrest. One, for assault and battery, is a misdemeanor case, while the other, robbery using force, is a felony.
A hearing is set for March 16.
“We're aware of the allegations and are confident that in time this case will show itself to be one of things not being as they initially appear,” Brandon R. Sloane, an attorney for West, told Complex on Thursday. “In the meantime, I am proud of Delonte as he has used this process to seek out help and been released on bond to a treatment facility. We all look forward to his continued progress, and Delonte is particularly appreciative of the numerous thoughts and well wishes over the last several weeks.”
In a 2022 interview with Good Morning America, West, who was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2008 and has also publicly struggled with substance abuse issues, spoke about the importance of basketball in his life as a means of escape.
“Basketball, for some, it’s just something to do. For me, it’s been a lifestyle,” he said at the time, adding that he prefers the term “mental superpowers” over mental illness.
